NFC Notes: 49ers, Cardinals, Seahawks

49ers

• ESPN’s Michael Rothstein identifies the Patriots, 49ers, Colts and Raiders as teams that have the cap space to absorb Falcons WR Julio Jones‘ contract in a trade and are contending teams with a need at receiver who wouldn’t mind taking a small gamble on a talent like Jones even if he is 32.
• Matt Barrows of The Athletic writes that first-round QB Trey Lance was tasked with playing in a pro-style offense at North Dakota State, changing play calls at the line of scrimmage, identifying the Mike linebacker, and re-aligning protection. 
• Barrows could see the 49ers “sprinkle in” Lance to its offense, similar to how the Saints use Taysom Hill.
• Barrows adds that the obvious goal for Lance is his development as a pocket passer.  
• Barrows believes that the 49ers’ secrecy surrounding the No. 3 overall pick helped keep their options open if a potential deal developed for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.

Cardinals

An NFL evaluator Mike Sando of The Athletic that they were really high on Cardinals’ first-round LB Zaven Collins. 

“We liked Collins a lot,” an evaluator said. “He’s this enormous guy who played off the ball and who can run. We projected him to be an edge player, on the line of scrimmage rather than off the ball.”

Arizona will pair Collins with 2020 first-round pick Isaiah Simmons at linebacker. 

“They are in a similar mold in terms of big, fast guys who are versatile,” an exec said. “This guy (Collins) is a little cleaner projection. If (defensive coordinator) Vance Joseph is having his way, he is blitzing a lot and moving guys all over the place. You do get excited when you see this guy because he’s so much bigger than everyone else on the field.”

Seahawks

Free-agent CB Richard Sherman said signing with the Seahawks is “never out of the cards” given he lives in Seattle during the offseason and his family is still based in the city. 

“I spend my entire offseason in Seattle,” Sherman said, via ESPN’s official Youtube. “It’s where I live. It’s where my family is. So it’s never out of the cards. Pete and I have had conversations throughout the offseason and everything needs to shake out right. They’re still figuring things out, I’m still figuring things out.”

Sherman added that it is still possible for him to re-sign with the 49ers, but it would come closer to the start of the regular season or even during. 

“There’s always a chance it can work out back in the Bay,” Sherman said. “It’s one of those things that would happen late or during the season if it happens at all.”

• According to Bob Condotta, DL Robert Nkemdiche‘s contract with Seattle is for $990,000 with an $850,000 cap hit.